Artificial Sweeteners- Gift or CURSE?

I've heard so many people say that artificial sweeteners (like splenda) are "bad" for you. I tried to find out why, but couldn't actually find any legitimate sources that have any proof. Just one study about rats that turned out to be pretty inconclusive seeing how the rats were already inclined to get the specific cancer they got. Anyway, does anyone have any legitimate reasons for saying "no" to artificial sweeteners?

I, personally, love drinking flavored water and "diet" foods since I had been trying to lose weight before I got pregnant. I think it's a great advancement for modern technology!

I've heard so many people say that artificial sweeteners (like splenda) are "bad" for you. I tried to find out why, but couldn't actually find any legitimate sources that have any proof. Just one study about rats that turned out to be pretty inconclusive seeing how the rats were already inclined to get the specific cancer they got. Anyway, does anyone have any legitimate reasons for saying "no" to artificial sweeteners?

I, personally, love drinking flavored water and "diet" foods since I had been trying to lose weight before I got pregnant. I think it's a great advancement for modern technology!

I've heard most are toxic in one way or another. And the whole aspartame gives lab rats cancer bugs me. Personally, I can't eat splenda (allergic reaction) and aspartame gives me headaches. But I haven't heard anything bad about stevia, yet. and I dont react to it at all.

I've heard most are toxic in one way or another. And the whole aspartame gives lab rats cancer bugs me. Personally, I can't eat splenda (allergic reaction) and aspartame gives me headaches. But I haven't heard anything bad about stevia, yet. and I dont react to it at all.

It gives me gas and tastes horrible. I am a sugar nut, I eat sweets all the time and only like the real thing. I think most of the diet foods are a gimmick and don't work. But if one has to drink a gallon of soda a day, guess it would be good for them.

It gives me gas and tastes horrible. I am a sugar nut, I eat sweets all the time and only like the real thing. I think most of the diet foods are a gimmick and don't work. But if one has to drink a gallon of soda a day, guess it would be good for them.

That aspartame is converted to formaldehyde at body temp is the only thing I know for sure about artificial sweeteners (it is short lived and there are numerous studies proving this.) The other thing I've "heard" (but not read any research to "prove") is that all artificial sweeteners ultimately raise blood sugar. (Consuming sugar-free beverages trigger the release of insulin, but if there is no sugar to be absorbed the body releases stored sugar to counteract the insulin. It rather makes sense, but I'm not sure that this is true.) I know that if you consume large amounts of soda, you are much better off drinking the diet rather than the regular with HFCS.

That aspartame is converted to formaldehyde at body temp is the only thing I know for sure about artificial sweeteners (it is short lived and there are numerous studies proving this.) The other thing I've "heard" (but not read any research to "prove") is that all artificial sweeteners ultimately raise blood sugar. (Consuming sugar-free beverages trigger the release of insulin, but if there is no sugar to be absorbed the body releases stored sugar to counteract the insulin. It rather makes sense, but I'm not sure that this is true.) I know that if you consume large amounts of soda, you are much better off drinking the diet rather than the regular with HFCS.

It's the aspartame. It's not in Splenda. Here is what aspartame does. I got from the website...http://aspartame.mercola.com/. "According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame: Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes."

It's the aspartame. It's not in Splenda. Here is what aspartame does. I got from the website...http://aspartame.mercola.com/. "According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame: Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes."

Chemically, sugar is very simple and thus our bodies break it down easily, but most of the sweeteners are more complex and thus may have different and potentially adverse effects on the body. The only one that has been proven to be bad is aspartame, which is in most gums and many diet drinks. As PPs have stated the effects, I won't go back into them. Splenda and the others made from sugar seem to be better, but there aren't enough studies done yet to prove them harmless. A friend researched Maltitol which is a sugar alcohol sometimes used in candies, and it seems to be a very simple molecule that shouldn't react badly in our bodies, but it does still raise blood sugar some, and it can cause diarrhea in large enough amounts. Stevia seems to be a great alternative, as it is made from a plant, and is very similar to sugar, but our bodies don't absorb it the same way, so it doesn't affect our blood sugar as much.

Chemically, sugar is very simple and thus our bodies break it down easily, but most of the sweeteners are more complex and thus may have different and potentially adverse effects on the body. The only one that has been proven to be bad is aspartame, which is in most gums and many diet drinks. As PPs have stated the effects, I won't go back into them. Splenda and the others made from sugar seem to be better, but there aren't enough studies done yet to prove them harmless. A friend researched Maltitol which is a sugar alcohol sometimes used in candies, and it seems to be a very simple molecule that shouldn't react badly in our bodies, but it does still raise blood sugar some, and it can cause diarrhea in large enough amounts. Stevia seems to be a great alternative, as it is made from a plant, and is very similar to sugar, but our bodies don't absorb it the same way, so it doesn't affect our blood sugar as much.

Aspartame is the concerning one. Studies have shown certain health risks as listed by a PP. Sucralose (as used in Splenda) is supposed to be the safest artificial sweetener. Personally- they all give me cravings for sweets which hijacks my dieting anyway. Stevia is a totally different story, but that is a naturally occurring herb so I'm not going to compare it to the other two.

Aspartame is the concerning one. Studies have shown certain health risks as listed by a PP. Sucralose (as used in Splenda) is supposed to be the safest artificial sweetener. Personally- they all give me cravings for sweets which hijacks my dieting anyway. Stevia is a totally different story, but that is a naturally occurring herb so I'm not going to compare it to the other two.

stevia has a funky taste but it just takes getting used to just like aspartame or sucralose or high fructose corn syrup. i think its a wonderful alternative to artificial sweeteners. have you tried tasting the actual plant? might be different than that boxed stuff.

only thing that bugs me about it is that i have a brother named stevie and he is anything but sweet!

stevia has a funky taste but it just takes getting used to just like aspartame or sucralose or high fructose corn syrup. i think its a wonderful alternative to artificial sweeteners. have you tried tasting the actual plant? might be different than that boxed stuff.

only thing that bugs me about it is that i have a brother named stevie and he is anything but sweet!

Sugar alcohols confuse your metabolic processes. It looks like a sugar molecule, so your body tries to process it like sugar, but ends up with no calories. Your cravings for real sugar go up (which is why many people find themselves eating/drinking more and more diet products, e.g. 5 diet cokes for every one regular coke the person used to drink). Long term ingestion has shown to correlate with weight gain, not loss, and cause disturbance in insulin response and processing.

Sugar alcohols confuse your metabolic processes. It looks like a sugar molecule, so your body tries to process it like sugar, but ends up with no calories. Your cravings for real sugar go up (which is why many people find themselves eating/drinking more and more diet products, e.g. 5 diet cokes for every one regular coke the person used to drink). Long term ingestion has shown to correlate with weight gain, not loss, and cause disturbance in insulin response and processing.

I absolutely love Splenda, and actually opt for artificial sweetener whenever I can. I was raised around it though (my mom was diabetic) so it was always in my house, and available (this of course was before there was full knowledge o aspartame) growing up. I do eat some sweets that have regular sugar in it. Or when I am baking, I will use sugar, because others eat the stuff. But when it is just for me, I use Splenda. I have always had a preference for diet sodas as well, regardless of the kind of soda. However, I think there are other factors in diet soda, that would negatively affect weight loss, as drinking diet soda surely didn't play any kind of positive role in my weight.

Seeing as I am high risk for Gestational Diabetes this pregnancy, it comes in handy to like it!

I absolutely love Splenda, and actually opt for artificial sweetener whenever I can. I was raised around it though (my mom was diabetic) so it was always in my house, and available (this of course was before there was full knowledge o aspartame) growing up. I do eat some sweets that have regular sugar in it. Or when I am baking, I will use sugar, because others eat the stuff. But when it is just for me, I use Splenda. I have always had a preference for diet sodas as well, regardless of the kind of soda. However, I think there are other factors in diet soda, that would negatively affect weight loss, as drinking diet soda surely didn't play any kind of positive role in my weight.

Seeing as I am high risk for Gestational Diabetes this pregnancy, it comes in handy to like it!

another problem is that artificial sweeteners are multiple times.sweeter than natural sugar (like fruits) and regular sugar, it messes with your perception of how sweet stuff really is.
I was watching a show and they suggested a 2 week fast from the artificial stuff, it was amazing to see the people think that fruits were almost overly sweet.

another problem is that artificial sweeteners are multiple times.sweeter than natural sugar (like fruits) and regular sugar, it messes with your perception of how sweet stuff really is.
I was watching a show and they suggested a 2 week fast from the artificial stuff, it was amazing to see the people think that fruits were almost overly sweet.

Several years ago I was getting horrible migraines every day. My husband read something about aspartame possibly being a cause of headaches. So I stopped eating/drinking anything with aspartame. The migraines stopped and I rarely even have headaches now (when I do I can usually trace it to something I ate that did have aspartame in it). So to me, aspartame is quite horrible.

Several years ago I was getting horrible migraines every day. My husband read something about aspartame possibly being a cause of headaches. So I stopped eating/drinking anything with aspartame. The migraines stopped and I rarely even have headaches now (when I do I can usually trace it to something I ate that did have aspartame in it). So to me, aspartame is quite horrible.

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